Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-02-25
SERVICE PENSIONS.
The Dependent Parent and In.
d1gent Soldier Bill Vetoed
by the President.
Full Text of the Executives Mes.
sage Directing to the
Measure.

sage Directing to the
Measure.
In the National House of Representatives.
lltn INST, a message was received from the
transmitting without his approval the
dependent pension bill. Thu text of tho mes.
SAGE il rs fOllows:
70 the House of Representatives.: herewith
fet9In without my approval House bill No.
1887, entitled AN nct for the roll. I OF depend-
en N parents sa;,nss and honorably dischar ed soldiers
ana saliors who nre now disabled and depend.
ent upon their own labor for support
-Ihis ls the first general bill that hns been
sanctaoned by Congress since the close of the
late civil war permitting q pension to the SOL
diers and sailors who served in that war upon
Sne s1ound OF service and present disabi ity,
alone, ana the entire absence OF any injuries
asceiseo oy the casualties or incidents Of such
WINE by almost constant legislation since
tne close OK this war there has been comrensa-
ZION awarded for every possible injury received
as u result OF military service In tho Union
a.Mys una while q great number Of laws passed
Ior ~ purpose have been admin stored with
s.eIs morality and have been supplemented
Dy numerous private acts to reach Sd cial
cases. tnefe has not, until ow, been an avowed
tepa s. tiom the principle thus far adhered
20 respecting Union soldiers, that the bounty of
the Government in the way of pensions is
generously bestowed when grant d to those
Wno: IN this military service and in inc II
militi,ry duty, have to a greater or less extent
but it ia a mistake to suppose that service
pensions, such as are permitted by the second
section OF the Till under consideration, are new
20 our legislation. III 1915, thirty-ive years after
the close OF the Revolutionary war, they were
granted to the soldiers engaged in that strug-
gle, conditional upon service to the end Of the
war. or for IL term not lees than niue months,
ana requiring every beneficiary under the act to
be one who is. or hereafter by reason Of his re-
ducet circumstances in life shall be. in need
z QSdtSto n0n frDrt, h;r- , -
other law of like character was passed in 1898,
requiring service TO the close of the Rev.
pulmonary war aud still another, passed in
the previous statute, but who served two years
at some time during the war, ana giving O pro-
portionate sum to those who had served not
less than six months.
"A service pension law was passed for the
benefit OF the soldiers Of 1912 in the year 1871
fifty-six years after the close of the war (which
required only sixty days service, and another
was passed in 1s78-sixty-three years after The
war-re4uiring only fourteen days service.
The service pension bill passed at this ses-
sion OF Congress, thirty-nine years after the
close Of the Mexican war, for the benefit of the
soldiers OF that war, requires cit .er some de-
gree of disability or dependency or that the
claimant under its provisions should be 81 years
OF age; and in either case that he should have
served sixty days or been actually engaged in q
battle.
at will be seen that the bill of 1873 and the
Mexican pension bill. being thus passd nearer
the close OF the wars in which its beneficiaries
were engaged than the others-one thirty-ive
years and the other thirty-nine years after the
termination OF such persons
who were quite advanced in nge, assumed 10 be
comparatively few i'll number, and whose cir
cumstances, dependence. and disabilities were
clearly defined and could be quite eusily fixed.
The other laws referred to appear to have
been passed at q time so remote from the mill
tary service OF the persons which they EN-.
braced that their extreme ago alone was deemed
to supply IL presumption of dependence and
need.
1.-The number of enlistments in the revolu-
tionary war is stated to be 1903, 79l, and in the
war OF 1872, 1862; but it is estimated that or
account of repeated re-enlistlnents the mum.
Der OF individuals engaged in these wars did
not exceed one-half of the number represented
by these figures: In the war with Mexico the
number Of enlistments is reported to be ll2, $50
which represents a greater proportion of indi
yiduals engaged than the reported enlistment
i'll the two previous wars.
"The number OF pensions granted under al
laws to soldiers OF the revolution is given u
G9,tG9; to soldiers of the war of 1872 and theil
widows. 20, l7s, and to soldiers Of tho Mexican
war and their widows. up to June 80, 1885
1873. This number of pensions was granted Il
the soldiers OF q war involving much hardship
service. ind it was not till within the las
month that the few remaining survivors were
awarded IL service pension.
"The war of tho rebellion terminated nearly
twenty-five years ago; tho number OF men fur
nished for its prosecution is said to be 2,772, 4OS
Under these statutes 5jl $40 pensions have beer
granted 1TOIIl the year 1901 TO June ~, 1885, QlC
more than 1900 pensioners have been added tt
the rolls by private acts passed to meet cases
many of them OF questionable merit, which the
general laws did not cover. On July l, 1886
365, 673 pensioners Of all classes were upon thu
pension rolls, OF whom 3O5, g S were survivors OF
the war Of the rebellion and their widows and
dependents for the year ending June 30, 1887
$'5,0JO,o0O have been appropriated for the pay
ment of pensions, and the amount expended
for that purpose from 1861 to July l, 1886, is
$sOS, 624. Sll.5l.
uyiJl,,In ,,,o ,,o,,:r, ,,,< ~,,l, . ,,oaA ,,,r.
for pensions already granted, it is now proposed
by the bill under consideration to award a ser.
vice pension to soldiers Of all wars in which the
United states has been engaged, including, OF
course, the war OF the rebellion, and to pay
those entitled to the benefit OF the act So pei
month. So far Us it relates to the soldiers OF the
late civil war, the bounty it affords them is
given thirteen years earlier than it has beer
furnished to the soldiers of any other wax, and
before u large majority Of its beneticiaries have
advanced in age beyond the strength and vigol
Of the prime of life. 1t exacts only a military
or naval service of three months, without any
requirements of actual engagement with al
enemy in battle, and without a subsection tt
any OF the actual dangers of war.
"The pension 1t awards is allowed to enlisted
men who have not suffered tho least injury
disability, loss. or damage of any kind incurred
in or in any degree refernble to their militar,
service, including those who never reached the
front at all and those discharged from rendez
vous at the close OF the war II discharged three
months after enlistment. Under the last cal
OF the President for troops. in December. 1864
IL. 1903 men were furnished who were thus dis
charged.
9Th section allowing this pension does, how
ever, require, besides a service OF three month";
and an honorable discharge, that those seeking
the benefit Of the net shall be such as arc nov
or. may hereafter be suffering from mental O.
physical disability not the result Of their owl
vicious habits or gross carelessness, which in
capaoitates them for the per ormance of labo
in such o degree as to render them unable Il
earn a support, and who are dependent upol
their daily labor for support.
1T provides further that such persons shall
upon making proof OF the fact. be placed on thu
| list of invalid pensioners OF the United States
and be entitled to receive for such total ina
bility to procure their subsistence by daily la
Dor SIP per month. and such pension shall com
mence from the filing Of the application in thu
Pension Office. upon proof that the disability
then existed, and continue during the existence
of'the same in the degree herein provided. tina
persons who sHapow receiving pensions unde
existing laws. or whose claims are pending IL
The Pension Office. may, by application to thu
commissioner of Pensions in such form as h
may prescribe, receive the benefit Of this act.
1T ia manifestly of the utmost Importance
that statutes, which, like pension laws. shoult
be liberally administered rs measures OF be
nevolence in behalf Of worthy beneficiaries
shoNld admit of no uncertainty as to their gen
eral objects and consequences.
Upon a careful consideration OF the Language
OF the section OF this bill above given, it scent
to me to be SO uncertain. and liable 10 such con
ticting constructions, and to be subject to sucl